In my visit to the Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry, I was astounded by how much it did not reflect a traditional school. Just the location alone was different. Having a school in the heart of downtown, in what appears to be an office building,  sets the stage for a non-traditional learning environment. Beyond this, the lack of classrooms creates a free-flowing school which allows for the lack of structure and schedule that the school establishes. Walking through the school I didn’t feel like I was in a school, but I definitely felt that learning was taking place. All around our class were students and teachers working on their inquiries while sharing ideas and knowledge. I felt the sense of creativity and growth that the founders of the school chose to foster.

In our chat with the Principle, I could sense his passion for the school and its structure. The idea of creating a space that allowed students to have autonomy in their own journey to master the curriculum is something that I really agreed within his talk. I liked that they weave the curriculum into the students’ own paths and not base their paths around the curriculum. Furthermore, I like that they have a tie to the university, allowing students that extend beyond the school’s expertise, to have a place to go.

Overall, the Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry is something so different from a traditional school environment that it is hard to imagine what it would be like without experiencing it. From what I learned today, I can see the benefits that could exist in this type of schooling. But I can also see how some students would find this set up to be overwhelming and confusing. I know that I would never want to learn in a school like this. I thrive off the structured environment that school offers. I think that it also teaches a lot of important skills needed later in life, such as study skills, close reading and analysis, meeting deadlines, and adaptability. But in saying this, I do value many of the ideas that this school offer. I would just not go to the extreme of a full inquiry-based school.